More than six million full time workers are losing out on days off that they failed to take this year.
27% of employees are forgoing an average of tw

More than six million full time workers are losing out on days off that they failed to take this year.

27% of employees are forgoing an average of two days’ respite as their annual leave calendars reset at the end of the year, according to new research.

Based on the UK’s average wage, £216 of additional work is being done by each overworked employee, totalling £1,341,460,000 across the country.

And it’s those working in hospitality and events management who are least likely to take their full entitlement, with an average six days still unclaimed at the year’s end.

But of those days they have managed to book off, the survey of 2000 employees by www.printerland.co.uk revealed that employees squandered an average four days acting on admin and two days to look after children.

Half of respondents had to use their valued vacation for medical appointments or to wait in for deliveries or repair engineers.
The survey revealed that on average, full time office workers get 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.

However, those quizzed believe a fairer number of holidays for hard workers would be 29 days per year, and 13% of respondents said their travel plans failed to match up with the time they were allowed, forcing them to take unpaid leave.

The stats show that an average of nine days of annual leave are used for holidays and seven to cover working days over the Christmas period, with August the most popular month for sun worshippers to shut up shop.

People in Portsmouth and Aberystwyth are set to lose out the most, with an average of four days lost.

Residents in York, Worcester, Gloucester and Brighton are most likely to use up every holiday before they run out of time.

Catherine Bannan, HR manager for Printerland.co.uk. said:

“There’s a lot of money being missed out on by UK employees when you consider that 27% of people haven’t taken their full entitlement and are in work instead. And of course, many people aren’t allowed to roll over holidays into the new year, so a lot of those days will be simply lost.

“Even if you haven’t made plans to go on holiday, it’s important to unwind and simply take the time off to relax and spend time with family and friends.”